Cindy Groover, 54, of Palm City, Fla., who cut calories and  walked 3 miles a day to lose 15 pounds since late September, says: "When I was  young, I could drop 10 pounds in two weeks by going on a low-carb diet. These  days, it just doesn't happen fast."

Losing this much is the "sweet spot" for many people, but  if they "want to go beyond that 10% loss, there is going to be some pain and  suffering," says Tim Church, director of preventive medicine research at the  Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge. "You are going to have to  limit your calorie intake without starving yourself."

Urban Athlete

 

Step Hits Its  Stride Again

 
 

Daniel Barry for The New York Times

 

Victor Cabezas, center, leading a step class at the New York  Health & Racquet Club.

 

By SHIVANI VORA

 

Published: December 9, 2010

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FOR many, the very mention of step aerobics evokes images of exercisers in  leg warmers and leotards, even though other classes have come to dominate group  schedules at gyms today. In New York City, however, this seemingly faded fad  from the 1990s is far from dead.

“It makes me not want to dread cardio,” she said. “The gym only offers it  once a week, but I like it so much that if they had more classes, I would  definitely be in them.”